In late April, convicted murderer Clayton Lockett’s botched execution in Oklahoma made headlines as details of his 43-minute ordeal came to light. Reporters who witnessed the execution said Lockett writhed in pain after the lethal injection. He ultimately died of a heart attack. The execution illustrates the problems for states that continue to execute prisoners by lethal injection. The states are having a harder time finding the necessary drugs and qualified medical personnel to carry out the executions.

The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” The “nor cruel and unusual punishments” phrase means that no matter how horrific the crime, the punishment shall not be cruel, inflicting needless pain.

The constitutionality of the death penalty has been challenged several times as being “cruel and unusual,” starting with the 1879 case Wilkerson v. Utah in which the Supreme Court ruled that death by firing squad was not a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Over the years, the court has upheld the view that as long as the execution is quick and relatively painless, it does not violate the Eighth Amendment. The court has imposed restrictions about who can be executed; for example, an inmate who is mentally challenged or juveniles cannot be executed.

Essentially the state of capital punishment has not changed much since the founding of the country, just the methods. Hanging, firing squads and electrocution have been used, but their gruesomeness led to clinical alternatives that were more humane. The federal government and the 32 states that allow capital punishment use lethal injection. Lethal injection has come under criticism because of the difficulties of finding experienced medical professionals to properly administer the injection and because of drug shortages.

In 2010, the American Board of Anesthesiologists decided to revoke the certification of any member who participated in an execution. An official of the board said: “We are healers, not executioners.” Anesthesiologists would lose their license, which would prevent them from working in hospitals. Reports from Oklahoma point to an inexperienced person improperly trying to inject an untested formula into Lockett’s femoral artery, something that many anesthesiologists have said is very tricky to administer, even for a seasoned professional.

The second issue is access to sodium thiopental, the anesthetic commonly used in executions. The lone U.S.-based company that provided sodium thiopental stopped selling the drug in 2011 because Italy, where the drug was manufactured, objected to its use in executions. When states tried to import the drug, the European Union banned the export of drugs used in executions, including pentobarbital. States have since scrambled to find the drugs. Some have tried new drug mixtures, experimenting with different formulas and imposing secrecy on their suppliers, including compounding pharmacies — lightly regulated laboratories that mix up drugs to order. Opponents have raised questions about quality control. Essentially, states have to play it by ear for every execution.

“States are trying out new lethal-injection cocktails, and there is inadequate training and supervision and oversight of execution teams,” David Waisel, an associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, told the Washington Post. “Given these recurring problems with lethal injections, if I had to be executed, I would choose a firing squad.”

Some have suggested that states do away with the three-drug cocktail and use a large dose of a sedatives or anesthetic. In the71 cases in which the condemned were executed by a single large dose of barbiturates, Dr. Mark J. Heath, an anesthesiologist at Columbia University and opponent of lethal injection, told the New York Times: “I have not seen a single complaint, not an unhappy warden or family or anybody, from the single-drug barbiturate approach.”

The issue of finding competent medical professionals to carry out the executions is also not easy to resolve. Some medical professionals, including doctors, are forbidden or discouraged from participating and some refuse. Not all states require medical oversight at executions, although some say the courts should require it.

Death-penalty opponents argue that no state can properly administer a lethal injection without violating the Eighth Amendment. Others say that previous methods should be reconsidered. Hanging, the electric chair and firing squads are all virtually instant deaths and do not require doctors to administer drugs. But they are also often graphic or disturbing to the witnesses, which is why they fell out of favor. Tennessee’s legislature has passed a bill bringing back the electric chair if it cannot find the drugs needed for an execution.

What do you think?

Should states more closely regulate executions by lethal injection? Should medical oversight be required? Are botched executions “cruel and unusual” punishment? Join the discussion and let us know what you think!

Parker
Mr.Hanna
Yes states should continue to use lethal injection for execution. But I think you should get the same treatment you did when you committed the crime. Say that you killed someone I think you should die the exact same way. Lethal injection really has no punishment pain wise. It's not fair to the person who died to have the cruel treatment and the convict go out in a non painful way.

6/5/2015
Stroudsburg, PA

Derek
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that states should still be allowed to use lethal injections for executions because it is a painless way to die. Even if criminals do bad things and deserve to die, at the end of the day, they're still humans and should not be allowed to be killed in cruel ways. The lethal injection is not this type of execution. It is painless and I believe it is humane. I believe that no matter how horrible people may be, everyone has some good in their heart.

6/4/2015
Stroudsburg/Pennsylvania

Zach
Mr.hanna/ Stroudsburg jr high
I think that states should actually do more lethal injections, only to the extremely bad prisoners. So for example like someone who committed a bad murder of a family or something like that. I think that there should be a doctor there when they are giving the lethal injection so they know what happened to the patient. I don't find botched injections cruel because whatever the victim did must have been just as cruel and awful so it should be an eye for an eye.

6/4/2015
Stroudsburg/ PA

Annika
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I think lethal injections are constitutional, if done correctly. If not done correctly, it would then be unconstitutional. Lockett's lethal injection was not constitutional. He suffered for 43 minutes be fore dying of a heart attack. By the constitution, that is a cruel and unusual punishment.

6/4/2015
Stroudsburg/Pennsylvania

Anthony Cabrera
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg Junior High School
yes but i think that once you are sentenced to the death penalty you should be executed immediately but with Letha injections

6/4/2015
Stroudsburg, PA

Lia
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Yes they should regulate it but not have severe punishments as a replacement. No instead they should qualified officials doing the operation.

6/4/2015
Stroudsburg/Pennsylvania

Zach
Mr.hanna/ Stroudsburg jr high
I think that states should actually do more lethal injections, only to the extremely bad prisoners. So for example like someone who committed a bad murder of a family or something like that. I think that there should be a doctor there when they are giving the lethal injection so they know what happened to the patient. I don't find botched injections cruel because whatever the victim did must have been just as cruel and awful so it should be an eye for an eye.

5/21/2015
Washington, New Jersey

Matthew
Mrs. Roksony, Warren Hills High School
I do believe states should continue to use lethal injections for the death penalty. Here is a statistic for you; on average, it costs $28,000 to keep a single inmate for a year, and the lethal injections used cost around $86. Therefore, using the death penalty is much more cheaper than keeping people in prison for their entire life. Therefore, the government can spend money on other things that matter such as fixing the economy. When it comes to "cruel and unusual punishment", I do not believe the death penalty falls under this category. The people who deserve the death penalty obviously must have done something extremely wrong in order to deserve it. States should keep the death penalty.

5/21/2015
NJ

Emily
Rokosny/Warren Hills
States should continue to use lethal injections considering the cost of an average inmate's life sentence in prison. According to last year's average fee per inmate was averaged out to be $28,893.40. This cost comes from the tax payers money, and is multiplied by all of the inmates including each one of their sentences. The drug used in lethal injections costs $86.08. Criminals with a life sentence should not spend it in a facility.

3/4/2015
murrieta,CA

Mickey
Mr.Jabro/ creekside
i think depending on the crime ,it would be ok to use the death penalty , like an example if someone was charged with murder, an eye for an eye, i think that crime suits the punishment and if they were charged with rape, i think the lethal injections would also be perfect for this crime ,because sometime the victims of rape , feel so shallow that they commit suicide and if that does happen then the rapist should be sentenced to death, but in my opinion it all depends on the intensity of the crime.

11/17/2014
Stroudsburg Pennsylvannia

Parker
Mr. Hanna
Yes states should still use lethal injections for executions. It is probably the only way to give someone the death sentence without them feeling any pain. It is the easily way to do it with no blood or suffering. It is the right way to end someone's life if they deserve what they did. They should not have to suffer no matter what. They should still receive there consequences but they should not have to suffer because of it.

11/17/2014
Murrieta CA

Elizabeth Padilla
Mr. Jabro/ Creekside High
i strongly believe that when you have commited a serious crime that the lethal in injection and death penalty is an easy way out. yes i understand that to some people that if you commit a murder than that person should be dead aswell but your basically giving them the easy way out and they should deal with what they have done.

11/14/2014
Stroudsburg Pa

Dylan
Me.Hanna/Stroudsburg jhs
I think if the person did 3 or more killings they should get it

11/14/2014
Belleville NY

Karen
Colby/ Belleville Henderson
I believe that a lethal injection is an acceptable way of capital punishment, but is the injection doing its job? with the fact that inexperienced people are making formulas that haven't been tested to know for sure that they'll be actually lethal. so in conclusion, lethal injections should be allowed to use in capital punishment for the highest offender, but the formula that is being used should be able to actually instantly kill, not slowly and painful make the offender suffer. It should be a quick and painless death for criminals that meet requirements for execution.

11/14/2014
Stroudburg PA

David
Mr Hanna SJHS
If the person did a illegal crime like bank
Robbery or a murder then they can use the
Lethal injections for executions. But if they
Did not any of those then they should not
Be able to do that.

11/14/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Amber
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I think lethal injection should continue to be used for executions. It is the least painful way to go. It only goes wrong sometimes, but the person doesn't suffer for long because they will be killed anyways. I think lethal injection is the best way to go for executions.

11/14/2014
Stroudsburg/PA

Ben
Mr. Hanna/SJHS
I believe that states should not use lethal injections for execution and move to another kind of execution like hanging. A lot can go wrong with lethal injections like having a heart attack. Although lethal injections don't leave any marks on the body, hanging does the same and it causes a instant death.

11/14/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Casie
Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think lethal injections should continue to use executepeople with lethal injections. I think medical oversight should be required because something could go horribly gone. Botch executions are cruel punoshment because they were supposed to die, but they didn't it's not right.

11/14/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Kenneth
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I belive that Lethal injections is not the way to kill someone. Yes, they did something bad that does not mean they have to suffer they should just have to stay in a cell for the reattach of their life.

11/14/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Taylor
Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I do believe that a a lethal injection is a humane, safe way to execute someone. However, more research needs to be put into it to ensure that it is as "safe and painless" as it should be. If this research can't be done, then we should consider switching our execution methods to something like a bullet to the head, which is relatively fast and painless. Whatever we do, I don't believe that we should hang people or use electrocution. They are painful and terrifying. these are my reasons on why we should just stick with lethal injections.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg, Pa

Alexa
Mr.Hanna SJHS
I think lethal injections should continue to be used for executions. It's a painless way for someone to die. I think that if who ever gives them the injection, if they mess it up should have a consequence though. If you mess it up and that person has to suffer threw their death thats just not really right.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg,PA

Kalin
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that states should continue to use lethal injections for executions. There is a very low chance for someone to have a bad reaction like s heart attack. If states were to use something else other than a lethal injection, it would cause the criminal more pain. The reason why the states use the injection is because they don't want the person to suffer and feel pain. I understand that people are concerned with the fact that Clayton Lockett had a heart attacking, but it is very rare. The methods of hanging, firing squads, and electrocution were use a while ago, but due to the pain and suffering it causes the person they stopped it. If you compare the injection to those three methods, you can see that the injection is a lot less painful and better for an execution.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Gabriel
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I do think that states should regulate executions by lethal injections especially for very involved cases like a mass murder or illegal deeds. Many other punishments such as the electric chair more are along the lines of torture and doesn't do everything a simple execution does. It takes a while for punishments like that to actually kill someone. Lethal injections, however, are very simple and to the point. Even though it takes time for it to go in effect, it still works efficiently and gives the person some time to live. Another thing I think I should bring up is if medical oversight should be required and to that I say yes. It would be a much more stress-free execution for observers and people because doctors can inject the criminal with the lethal injection with their skill and knowledge and knowing that they have done it before and if something does go wrong, they know how to fix it. And finally one last thing I want to cover is if lethal injections are concidered "cruel and unusual." I say they are not because they really aren't cruel unless they using it against a minor case and it really isn't unusual because most people would consider the death penalty something like this. I think of it as quick and painless.
Anyway, to summarize: I think that states should use lethal injections as a formal means of execution.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg, Pa

Madison
Mr.Hanna/ SJHS
I believe that lethal injection is the way to go for execution. The chances of something going wrong and the person to have a heart attack are slim to none. Simply if we would use other methods of execution, the person would be tortured and face an even more horrifying death than a quick and painless lethal injection. Yes, although things rarely go wrong, I believe that there should be a doctor in the room just to make sure that nothing goes wrong. This is most likely the best way to execute someone and I do not feel it is cruel or unusual Because it's not like the person would be messing up the execution process on purpose.

11/13/2014
stroudsburg Pennsylvania

Nick
Mr.Hanna/stroudsburg JHS
Although lethal injections may not be the cheapest way of an execution, it is the most effective. Think about it. All that the gov. Would be paying for is the injections, not like other ways as buying a firearm and the ammunition, and having one person have to power to take anothers life. Injections can be a much peaceful way to go. No matter the crime you had to do to get to have to be exicuted, its better for the family to have a funeral without a bullet hole through the persons skull.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Danny
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that lethal injections should be allowed everywhere. If the person is even up for the leathal injections, that means that they commited a crime, most likely murder. So the punishment should be returned. I do believe that botched executions are wrong but if the person made another person suffer then they should suffer for there actions.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Valeria
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
States should not regulate executions by lethal injection. I do not agree with the idea of making someone suffer. They might have done something that is unforgivable, but no one deserves to die in suffering. I do agree with some ways of death penalty though maybe something quick and fast that won't make them suffer. Doctors aren't here to make someone suffer to death, they are here to help us. If they keep doing this medical oversight should not be requiered because if they are doing this so the criminal could die suffering why does it matter who injects him? If something goes wrong it doesn't matter right? Well no this is wrong. I don't understand how we could be so cruel to someone. Botched executions are very "cruel and unusual" punishments because it would be a complete disaster! Imagine the person going through all that suffering and not ending up dying? That would be horrifying, living all your life with the memory of horrible pain. It could also Affect the health of the criminal massively, they could end up being mentally challenged if there's a botched execution.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Tessa
Mr. Hanna\Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that states should be aloud to use lethal injections. If someone does a crime that is so awful that they get the punishment to die, they should not have to suffer anymore. It would be easier for their family and friends knowing that they will not be tortured or in pain. They already have to live with themselves for what they did, we should not make it worse. I believe that the state should not have the right to torture people. If they need to kill someone for a reason it should be quick and painless. If it is dangerous to let the person stay alive then they should get the death penalty. However it should not be painful. Therefore the states should be able to use the lethal injections for the death penalty.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Justin.R
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I truly believe that lethal injections is the right way to go for executions. Any other way of killing someone is unhuman and not right for the law to follow through with. Execution is already a harsh punishment as it is but if you were to torcher someone to the death that's just messed up when you can do the right thing and use injections so justice will be surved without a brutal beating. Unless there is another reasonable way to put someone down for a hard crime, I think lethal injections is very well the right thing to do.

11/13/2014
Stroudsburg

Sebastian
Mr.Hanna
I think the person should be able to choose how the want to be executed.

11/12/2014
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Jordan
Mr.Hanna
No I do not believe they should continue with that death penalty. The reason is I do not think is it a good enough punishment. The reason is if somebody comits a crime so bad that they deserve death for what they have done, they deserve to suffer, and to pay or what they have done. A lethal injection is just getting the easy way out of punishment

10/29/2014
Murrieta, CA

Justin Reed
Mr.Jabro/Creekside High School
I honestly believe that lethal injections should still be used in America. Say if you were already dying and you couldn't take the pain any longer, what do you do? You sit in a hospital bed while they keep you alive even though you know for a fact you will not recover from this. This is where lethal injection should come in. If they want to, go ahead and let them. Now if it's about crime, you shouldn't let them have a lethal injection because they have committed crimes, and they should deserve to get the electric chair or just rot in jail.

10/9/2014
Murrieta/California

Derek
Mr.Jabro/Creekside High School
I think that we should just let them rot in jail to think over their crimes for a long time or even till they die of natural causes. The death penalty is technically the easy way out, if you think about it you are giving a murderer, rapist or other serious offender the easy way out by just ending their life instead of making it last longer but be miserable in prison or solitary confinement. So in other words the death penalty should not exist anymore because the offenders might just see it as a way out of jail or prison.

10/6/2014
Murrieta/California

Curtis
Mr.Jabro/Creekside High School
I personally believe in individuals who have been charged with an unforgivable crime due to compelling evidence deserve cruel and unusual punishment. An unforgivable crime is a crime that is found to be unforgivable in the eyes of others. People like rapists, serial killers, sex offenders, murderers, etc. are deserving of death and deserve no form of mercy or consideration. I don't think that everyone that has killed deserve to die a horrible death, but I do believe most do. I dont think the states should bother trying to get expensive drugs and such to kill people on death row. I think a simple hanging or a bullet to the head would do just as well as anything else as long as its quick and painless.

10/1/2014
Murrieta,CA

Cassandra Bedoya
Mr. Jabro/Creekside High School
Should lethal injections for execution continue to be used? In my opinion, this should stop. It is a very painful punishment and should not continue. The U.S. constitution states that no matter what the crime was, the punishment shall not be painful and lethal injection are doing just that. Taking someones life in that manner is immoral to me. The death penalty is a much better way to deal with this. Lethal injections for executions should be abolished.

9/29/2014
Murrieta CA

Matt B.
Mr. Jabro
Should states continue to use Lethal Injections? In my opinion they should. If anything, California should start to use the Death Penalty, There should be no reason a mass murderer should be able to live after he took lives, or any murderer in that case. It should be, If you took a life then you get your life taken from you. Then criminals will start to learn because they would not want that penalty because there is no greater cause for a death penalty than taking someones life. That is what i think about continuing the death penalty.

9/26/2014
Murrieta Ca.

Derek C.
Mr Jabro
Should states continue to use lethal injection? My answer is yes. First of all lethal injection is painless and most likely feels like your just falling asleep instead of painful shocks like the electric chair or other devices. Killing any human is a crime im sure we can all agree on that, but what if a human kills another out of anger or spite, then what? Are we to just stand by and let them live their life even though they may be mentally ill or have a psychological disorder of some sort? The answer is no because that person is a danger to society and if we let them live they may attempt to do it again and kill more innocent people all because you said "lethal injection is not a good thing" Which is a wrong statement. Sacrifices are to be made to better society and if that means eliminating a threat that is human then so be it that human must be punished for their crimes.

9/24/2014
Murrieta CA

ed
Mr. Jabro creekside high school
Let me ask you this was the life of that person in the hands of the killer? No. Lethal injections are not cruel and unusual I mean what the killer did to the victim is cruel its never a calm slow death its always something extreme. Anyone can play mental and get out of it. Karma exsists for a reason its gonna happen to him/her either its in the prison yard or done through lethal injection. The family shouldnt have to have their child husband wife or whatever be dead and the murder alive a life for a life.

9/17/2014
Virginia

Miranda
Monticello High School
Injections should not be use. The person deserves to sit in jail and suffer for their crime. Dying is taking the easy way out.

9/10/2014
Virginia

Caleb
Monticello High
I feel like if you are getting the death penalty you deserve any suffering you get as you die.

8/29/2014
Murrieta CA

Raquell
Mr.Jabro Creekside High School
I believe the states should regulate lethal injection executions more closely because people that have done the worst things a human can do sit on death row waiting for years on end until they are finally executed and all that is doing is making them wait and stress and also backs up the prison system. I believe medical oversights should be on hand or close by just in case any complications occur during the execution. I some what believe that botched executions can be "cruel and unusual" punishment but if you have done something so bad to deserve that punishment then I believe the person deserves it.

8/29/2014
Murrieta,Ca

Elena
Mr.Jabro
I don't agree with the lethal injections. Honestly I'm not a huge fan for revenge but if someone is murdered then their family has to deal with the pain and anguish that comes along with loosing a family member or a friend! If their killer gets sentenced to death by lethal injection then they have a way out and their suffering will end. That's the easy way out and I highly disagree with that. I feel if a person commits a serious crime worthy enough for lethal injection, then they suffer the consequences and sit in a jail cell for a decade or so, because they deserved that much when they murdered that person

8/27/2014
Murrieta CA

Alec
Mr. Jabro / Creekside
i honestly believe that punishment by death is a truly pointless punishment. i see no point is killing a person who will eventually die on their own. even if this person has committed the most evil of crimes, he should still be given the bare necessities to live, while locked in a room 23 hours a day with an hour to leave and socialize. I see this as a better alternative to ending the life of another human being.

8/22/2014
murrieta ca

Corrine Creech
Jabro / Creekside high school
I feel that if there are that many complications for lethal injection, they should not use it. I believe if they say there is a better way and a fast of way doing this it should be done.
but its kind of confusing, because they are death row for a reason, they might have tourchoured their victim why should the criminal get the easy way out? i feel they should just hang the people on death row if its gonna be that big of an issue for letheal injection

8/21/2014
Murrieta CA

Ashley
Mr.Jabro
People should consider what they are doing to a person, even if that person is an inmate on death row. Lethal injections kill a living being. Another human that has a family, some one's child. Maybe with children of their own. Now if medical personal found a PROVEN pain free way to execute a someone i might become more at ease with executions. Because a botched execution is very close to murder. Someone is taking another person's life. Now if the law is right, then that is murder. " Thou shall not kill. " Just because that is not specified does not executions do not count. But, as stated before if a truly painless way is found I might be more open and accepting.

8/15/2014
Murrieta CA

Lily
Mr.Jabro Creekside Highschool
I personally think that lethal injection is the most humane way to execute prisoners. There's no blood or anything truly gory except the body you have to take care of afterwards. States should have to more closely regulate lethal injections because our prisons kill so many people. Since the drugs and professionals are so hard to find now we should execute those who have done something truly sinister. Medical oversight should be required in case something really does go horribly wrong. Thinking of the persons family and witnesses,even if their loved one was a prisoner they don't want to see them suffer. Botched executions are a bit cruel due to the fact that the doctors really have no idea what effect it will have. So yes,that is a bit cruel and unusual.

8/14/2014
Ca

Stephanie Folston
Creekside HighSchool
No, states should not regulate executions. Especially the lethal injection in particular. The lethal injection in my opinion is the most humane of all executions. Although medical oversight should not be required but more fluid to inject or maybe a stronger mix of drugs for less pain. Botched Executions are not "cruel and unusual" punishment as long as the prisoner truly deserves it. Such as murder or homicide not so much as stealing or vandalizing. In my opinion the prisoner should get what they gave. If he needs to choke to death hang him or if he needs to be shot, use the firing squad sometimes the lethal injection is too nice.

7/28/2014
Benson AZ

Kalee
Mr.Sorensen Benson High School
I think they should, because I think they should get what they deserve, and I think it's not cruel and unusual punishment.

7/28/2014
Benson AZ

James
Mr. Sorensen Benson High School
No, states should only have life without parole as their capital punishment. Because an eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind.

7/28/2014
benson high school/ benson az

Jared
Mr.sorensen
my view point is that if they are willing to commit murder then capital punnishment should be allowed beacuse even though some people do no die immediately they die more humane than what they did to the people that they murdered

7/28/2014
Benson/Az

Harley
Sorensen/Benson HS
I feel like if a person is willing to kill somebody or commit a capitol crime they should receive a punishment that fits the crime so in this case its okay to continue using lethal injections.

7/28/2014
Benson, Az

kyle
Sorensen/Benson HS
I agree that states should continue to use lethal injections for executions because it is probably the most humane way to execute those convicted for capital crimes. Even though some executions are botched, most are humane.

6/15/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Grace
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg Junior high school
Yes, to make sure they are done I a fair and humane way. The oversight of medical professionals should be required to make sure it follows 8th Amendment properly. I also agree that botched executions are "cruel and unusual" punishments, because the victum could have survived, causing the punishment to be torturous.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg,PA

Rabeea
Me.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that states shouldn't get rid of lethal injections for executions because it's is a lot more comfortable way to kill some one then some other cruel punishment such as firing squad or any other outlawed execution method. Also I believe it is much more safer then any other method because it takes place in a closed environment where trained professional. If lethal injections were banned then what other execution methods are left? Hanging? I feel as though hanging is an "old fashion" way of execution and being choked to death should be deemed cruel. In the end I think that states should keep lethal injections since it is the most efficient.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg,PA

Timera T.
Mr.Hanna
I believe that the lethal injection should be continued. The states should more closet regulate the injections so mishap like Mr.Lockett doesn't happen again. I believe that botched injections are considered "cruel and unusual punishment" . Even though there are mistakes that have happened with the injections doesn't make it safe. Everything has mishaps and everything isn't perfect. Medical officers shouldn't have to be required for oversight. The medical officer didn't sign up to execution someone but study and work with their medical field. These are my opinions about this topic.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Michael C.
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I feel that states should closely regulate executions and medical oversight should be required. I think this because if an inexperienced person were conduction the execution, there'd be a high chance of him making a mistake. Making a mistake in such a situation could lead to a long and painful death. If lethal injections lead to long and painful deaths it would be violating the eighth amendment. If lethal injections are continuously issued like this, the states should consider an alternative to lethal injections.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Carol Melo
Mr. Hanna / Stroudaburg JHS
I think that states should regulate execution. By lethal infection because some people really deserve it. Also medical oversight should be required. However, I believed that states should pick just a few criminal to be execute this way, but, first a doctor should approved it by a doctor.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Samantha I
Mr. Hanna / Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that lethal injection should continue to be used but I feel lethal injection executions should be more closely regulated. I also feel that medical oversight should most definitely be required in case something does go wrong. Botched executions are very wrong, cruel, and unusual. I feel that it isn't right for someone to be executed that way. I feel that we should continue lethal injection but only under medial oversight.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Adam
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think states should continue with the lethal injections for many reasons. The first reason is because the electric chair is very cruel and the prisoner who has the death sentence ends up suffering. Also the late lethal injection is better because the prisoner is not brutally killed. The prisoner practically gets put to sleep so they don't feel the injection go in. The only other thing that may be better is the firing squad. The firing squad would kill the person instantly and not painfully. I think the lethal injection should be continued in states.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg,pa

Jeremiah G
Mr.Hanna/stroudsburg JHS
I think this should not be going on or keep going because something might go wrong and they wasteing a lot of time on money and the injunction so I think they should stop but on the other hand I think they should keep doing it because the prison might be getting croded and the prison don't have that much space.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg,PA

JabareeM
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
They need to be more regulations because if this happens again there could be problems.Yes because it would help prevent this from happening again.No because the injections are no to hurt you it was just a mistake.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg,pa

Jeremiah G
Mr.Hanna/stroudsburg JHS
I think this should not be going on or keep going because something might go wrong and they wasteing a lot of time on money and the injunction so I think they should stop but on the other hand I think they should keep doing it because the prison might be getting croded and the prison don't have that much space

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg

Jacob S.
Mr. Hanna / Stroudsburg
I would say reluctantly, that lethal injection should stay in place. Only as a form of punishment in cases where the person being executed has willingly caused one or more deaths. The system of lethal injection needs to be seriously "remodeled," there have been too many cases where lethal injection has failed. Doctors should be hired, not just the local vet but an actual anesthesiologists, people who have been trained in the use of anesthetics on humans.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Ashley C.
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that lethal injection should not continue. I think this because its cruel and unusual and the 8th ammendment protects against excessive bail and curel and unusual punishment. Many people got it the wrong way and even if its by accident it can still happen again. Also what happens if they dont die right away they would die slowly and have more pain then what they are suppose to have. So I think they should not have lethal injection.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg PA.

Kyeer
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think continuing this would not be fine because things could end up going bad and sometimes the machines won't work.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Shecquanna
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
Yes I do believe that states should more closely regulate executions done by lethal injections so that they can be more sure of the procedure and what's going to happened. I also believe that medical oversight should be required in an execution because I believe that if a doctor is present during the execution there is a less likely chance that the execution will experience difficulties and fail. Apart of me believes that botched executions can be "cruel and unusual" punishment but another apart of me also believes that if you do the crime you should face the consequences because you were the one who choose to do wrongs no one forced you.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Shaydra
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think they shouldn't because if something goes wrong how are they going to fix. Also if the person is allergic to the stuff that is in the needle how are they suppose to fix it. I think there should be medical attention because if there is an allergic reaction they be able to fix it right away. Yes because they should have known that whatever they did is not right.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Shayla
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that states should regulate a lethal injection. Also medical oversight should be required for this as well as anything. I also don't think that botched are not a cruel and unusual punishment because they did the crime so they have to pay the death penalty

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg JHS

Faiz Waiguchu
Mr. Hanna
I think they should get rid of lethal injections because the cause a lot of pain when not used correctly, like that guy in Oklahoma who writhered in pain because it wasn't used correctly. Also I think that the drugs for lethal injection are really expensive and hurting our economy because of their high cost. Plus, the drugs are manufactered in other countries. So that means if the other countries don't like that means they won't sell us the drugs. Also I think lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment and therefore unconstitutional. That's why they should get rid of it.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Amanda A.
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I think that states shouldn't continue to use lethal injections for executions because it is a painful punishment and the U.S Constitution states that no matter what the what the crime was, the punishment shall not be painful. The fact that lethal injections are unconstitutional, they shouldn't be done. States are even having a hard time finding the necessary drugs and qualified medical personnel to even do these kinds of executions.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg pa

Josh D
Mr.hanna/stroudsburg jhs
I think they should keep lethal injections they are good if you ask me they should feel the pian that they caused the victim to feel. If the are going to do it I don't thing that they should wait in jail for 20 years living of our taxes it cust like a half million dollars for like one year and the parents of the victim still half to be a little scard because he or she is still alive. My main opinion is the should keep it just make the proses faster!!!!!!

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Kyle J
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I feel lethal injections should be abolished in all states. In my opinion it is immoral and unethical to take another person's life in that manner. Especially when accidents like what have happened to Clayton Lockett occur. Accidents do happen but this kind of thing has no room to repeat itself. If it happens again it could spiral into people taking legal action, people losing their jobs, and worst of all it could be classified as unconstitutional and could be taken to a higher court. The death penalty is an effective way to handle dangerous people, but lethal injection shouldn't be one of those methods

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Caitlin B.
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Honestly in my own opinion, I believe that the lethal injections should stop. As it says in the 8th amendment, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Meaning that, lethal injections are breaking the 8th amendment. No one should have to wait for 45 minutes to actually die. Its torture in the very worse form.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, Pa

Zach
Mr.Hanna/ Stroudsburg JH
I believe states should continue to use lethal injections. I feel it is far less harmful than shooting a gun, or electricuting someone. They do deserve to die, however nobody deserves to die in that much harm. Also, lethal injections can almost never go wrong, if you do it correctly. In the past, electricutions have gone way wrong. Therefore, states should continue to use lethal injections.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Mariah L.
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I think states should more closely regulate executions by lethal injections. I also think that medical supervision should be required because then the executions won't go wrong as often as they would without medical oversight. I think botched executions are very cruel and unusal.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg/PA

Diamond R
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I do think that lethal injection executions should be more closely regulated. Medical oversight should definitely be required so that nothing goes wrong as it has in the past. I also agree that botched executions are cruel and should be prevented from happening.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Katelyn M.
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Lethal injection is definitely the least gruesome way to execute. When they don't mess it up, of course. When they do I would agree it's cruel and unusual. To avoid this, I do believe more medical oversight would be a smart idea.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Gabriella Smith
Mr. Hanna
Yes, I believe that lethal injection should continue to be used for excecution. Criminals that have done such a terrible, and awful crime do not deserve to be treated as those who have only done a smaller crime. I agree with this in general although I do believe it should be limited towards how much it is being used. Those who were put to the death penalty, were in there for a reason. It isn't cruel to kill someone who doesn't deserve to live, because there victims were punished, innocent people, why should the criminals get justice, and be pampered.

6/12/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Gabriella Smith
Mr. Hanna
Yes, I believe that lethal injection should continue to be used for excecution. Criminals that have done such a terrible, and awful crime do not deserve to be treated as those who have only done a smaller crime. I agree with this in general although I do believe it should be limited towards how much it is being used. Those who were put to the death penalty, were in there for a reason. It isn't cruel to kill someone who doesn't deserve to live, because there victims were punished, innocent people, why should the criminals get justice, and be pampered.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg/ Pennsylvania

Riley
Mr. Hanna stroudsburg JHS
In my opinion states should definitely regulate lethal injections but with all the problems there are there should be a medical oversight each time there is a lethal injection. The point of having a death penalty is so a person is not in pain when they do die so I believe botched executions are very crule and who ever is doing the execution should not be messing up.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Missy
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
States should more closely regulate executions by lethal injection. There is a possibility that the drug cannot give the results it's supposed to. It can be the most best way to go, because the criminal will not be in pain. Even if a criminal does deserve it, he/she does not to deserve to be hung or be put in the electric chair, by using lethal injections they can die peacefully. Medical oversight should be required because if the drug ends up not working there should be medical assistance. Botched executions can be cruel and unusual, but sometimes they are not. If the person has murdered people for no reason, yes, give him/her the punishment they deserve. If the crime does not come close to that then botched executions would be considered cruel and unusual.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg/PA

Brooke M
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that states should definitely regulate executions by lethal injections. Clayton Lockett's execution caused him to suffer. He ultimately died of a heart attack. Although this may have been an accident, lethal injection has come under criticism because of the difficulties of finding experienced medical professionals to properly administer the injection and because of drug shortages. If they cannot find medical professionals to inject the poison, then this can result in multiple painful and cruel deaths. Lethal injections also break the Eighth Amendment which states: "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." This means that no matter how horrific the crime was, the punishment shall not be cruel and painful. Another issue is that it is difficult to access sodium thiopental which is the anesthetic commonly used in the executions. Therefore, I believe lethal injections are a cruel and unusual punishment and should be stopped immediately.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Kyle F
Mr Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
My opinion on lethal injections is that it should be band. The lethal injections take to long and are very risky and last you need to find the right chemicals and a specialized person to perform the procedure. The reason this can be so dangerous is that the executor could miss his mark with the needle or they could give them the wrong substance. If the needle is in the wrong spot or the substance is the wrong one the criminal will suffer and become the victim. If there is a lot of suffering witch is cruel and unusual punishment. If the criminal is suffering it doesn't make the executioner any better than the criminal. Also the injections take to long. It takes time to inject all 3 chemicals into the body witch may cause mental suffering. The states need something that kills the criminal immediately. Last there shouldn't have to be a special person to perform the act, it should be simple enough for any one in the room should be able to do.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Taylor
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that states should more closely regulate executions by lethal injection. I think they should do this because of what happened to the guy in Oklahoma. Botched executions, I think, are cruel and unusual punishment. I don't think it's right for someone to be executed that way. With that being said, I think there should be a doctor present when executions are taking place in case another incident happens again.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Nadia S
Mr. Hanna JHS
I think states should not regulate executions by lethal injections.too many things have gone wrong with the lethal injections. Yes I think that there should be medical oversight required in case something goes wrong. At least they would have medical help right away. I think that botched injections are cruel and unusual because no matter what somebody does I don't think killing them is necessary it's cruel to take somebody's life I think that they deserve to sit in a prison for the rest of their life and know that what they did was wrong . This is just my opinion.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Taher
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Yes states should definately regulate lethal injections with all the trouble caused by them. If they were to add medical oversight i believe that more executions used by lethal injection would actually not go wrong. Yes botched executions are highly cruel they should not be messing up on executing someone painlessly .

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Jason G
Mr. Hanna Stroudsburg JHS
Honestly in my opinion, they should find a different way to execute someone because Clayton Lockett as bad as may have been didn't deserve to wait for 45 mins to die. This isn't the first time it ever occurred either so they should find a quicker and painless way. Also part of the Eighth Amendment is, "no cruel and unusual punishment," well that's sounds an awful lot like cruel and unusual punishment to me. This is my opinion on Lethal injection on execution

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Jasmine D
Mr.Hanna
I think that the lethal injection should not continue, because this murder that happened, the man that they gave it to was in a lot of pain, when they finished injecting him.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Christian
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that the lethal injections should not continue. It is a cruel and unusual punishment, the person would have a slow and painful death especially if something goes wrong while doing the injection.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg,PA

Amber F
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that lethal injections should stop. If they were to stop there could be another alternative or no death penalty at all. Athought that would be complicated and possibly hard, but isnt trying to get rid of and find alternatives for the death penalty hard? I think lethal injections is cruel and unusual punishment because this could happen again. Someone else could have the injection go wrong. Why do we even need the death penalty? So many problem throught the years trying to figure out whats more effective. I think life in prison is pretty effective if you ask me. Some of the things people go through just while they are in prison is bad enough, then kill them. It's all unfair but unfortunetly thats life and if you do the crime you do the time.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Sierra T.
Mr.Hanna/StroudsburgJHS
I feel that the states should be monitoring lethal injection a lot more than they actually are. Also in my opinion there should be a medical oversight. I don't believe anyone is in the position to decide if someone should live or die. I feel that botched executions are cruel, no one should be tortured. I'm neutral when it comes to lethal injection, sometimes innocent people get executed. But on the other hand a lot of the time rapists, killers, etc do also.

6/11/2014
stroudsburg, PA

Christian G
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that states should more closely regulate lethal injection. I think this because if they inject the drug in someone's body that person might not die instantly and experience pain. If that happens that is violating the 8th amendment. I think that there should be a medical proffesional there to oversee if the person does instantly. To me botched executions are not cruel. If the person did something really bad then he should pay for it.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg/PA

Natalie J
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg Jr. High School
In my opinion, states should have medical oversight at executions. Though I believe that lethal injections should continue, they should be watched over and made sure nothing goes wrong. I also believe that what happened to Clayton Lockett was an honest accident. No one meant for him to go through what he went through. It is a lesson learned by knowing that they should be more careful next time anyone has to get an execution. It was an honest mistake made by the court. It was an accident of what happened to Lockett. So now they know what to and not to do at executions.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Colin B
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that executuon by lethal injection shouldn't be regulated in all the states with the lack of the drugs, cost and the problems. If you're going to kill someone that way medical oversight should be required but that cost a good amount too. Botch Executions are not cruel and unsusual. If I had to choose firing squad is the way to go. Its quick, easy, has almost no problems and is cheap.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Jacquelyn E.
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that the lethal injection is necessary because ofthe crimes that many people make. For example, Michael Parrish killed his 19-month old baby Sydney, and his girlfriend Victoria out of jealousy. Those who have murdered innocent people should have a lethal injection as their execution. Those who do not get the lethal injection will never understand how badly they have hurt others.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Samantha
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
In my opinion, lethal injections execution is a cruel punishedment. The fact that Clayton Lockett's execution failed and died by a heart attack was cruel. Yet, people who did the execution on Mr. Lockett did not know that was going to happen, although, Mr. Lockett was not the first person whom had a failed execution. To stay away from this problem I believe they should just take away lethal injection executions.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Brix R
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think state should be able to continue with lethal injections. I think this because there is nothing cruel or unusual about giving someone a needle. The execution should be watched and a doctor should be in charge because the doctor would be the one with most medical experience.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Kyle H
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
States should regulate lethal injection. I believe lethal injection should continue but there needs to be some sort of medical available if something does go wrong. If they went back to firing squad, hanging, or electric chair.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Mike
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that lethal injections should not continue. Although Clayton Lockett's case was an accident, and shouldn't be considered "cruel and unusual", I do think it would be better to use a quicker, more effective method of execution, such as the electric chair, or a firing squad. The electric chair or a firing squad are virtually instant deaths, versus the longer amount of time it takes for the drugs to take effect.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Madeline R.
Mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
So what if a few accidents occurred during lethal injections. Those can be fixed, we can find a way to get guaranteed results and minimize accidents. Are we really going to backslide into gory hangings, electric chairs, and firing squads. They say lethal injections are unconstitutional how about strapping someone into a chair and electrocuting them to death! Lethal injections are painless and contrary to popular belief are the most humane way to end someone's life. We can find drugs or even work on new concoctions for the injections. We can even find specialized doctors to administer it all, but can we really find a humane way to kill a human being outside of a simple painless drug. So of course keeping lethal injections for executions is the right choice, because until we find something that doesn't include guns and electricity and gore we don't have anything better.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Kassandra K
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that the lethal injections should be able to continue. I think that it should only be able to be used with a doctor doing it because they know what they are doing. Otherwise the people doing the executions should do the electric chair or another option. And if it is disterbing to the crowd they should not be there.also if there are doctors there wouldnt be any cruel or unusual punishment

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg JHS

Sidney L
Mr. Hanna
I believe that lethal injections should continue. This incident was a complete accident and was not meant to be a cruel and unusual punishment. The people who inject the person should be experienced and know how to put the needle in, but it still should not be viewed as a cruel and unusual punishment because it was a mistake. Unless it was intentional and the person injecting meant to make the person suffer, lethal injection should continue and not be viewed as a cruel and unusual punishment.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Livia M.
Mr. Hanna Stroudsburhjhs
I believe that states should not use lethal injections for many reasons. One, the drug itself is hard to obtain( probably for a reason). Two, it is inhuman and horrid accidents have occurred in the past due to many reasons surrounding the drug. Three, it violates the eighth amendment as a cruel unusual punishment. Though it is morbidly cleaner, I believe being hung, shot by the firing squad or just left to suffer in jail is less cruel, less messy and or easier for the state to deal with in general.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Devon B
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Im my opinion, states should regulate executions by lethal injection because some executions don't work very well and people end up in pain. Medical oversight should be required because a doctor would know how to give someone the shot so therefore keeping the person out of pain. Botched executions are cruel and unusual sometimes people doing the executions mess up and end up hurting someone so they break the Eigth Amendmen.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Caitlin P.
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think states should not continue to use lethal injection for executions. I think this because many things can go wrong, just like it did for convicted murderer Clayton Lockettt. Lethal injection is just cruel and personally I think they should just use things such as the electric chair to execute people or find a new, safer way to do it.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Joseph D
Mr.hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think states should continue to use lethal injections for executions. I think this because we have been using lethal injections and it has been working. Also, the lethal injections are faster than other executions.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg,PA

Katie W.
Mr. Hanna/ stroudsburg JHS
I think states shouldn't have lethal injections anymore because it goes against the 8th amendment. Also to me if I was in that situation I'd rather have the firing squad or electric chair if I knew they were going to have the injection messed up.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Dillon P.
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Lethal injection shouldn't be legal for executions. Instead, states should use something that causes a quick death. Hangings, electric chair, and firing squad all sound better than a slow painful death by an untrained person not hitting the correct artery.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

AbbyT
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that lethal injections should be used. They one of the best ways for some to be punished. They are are and easy as long as someone who has given shots before does the injection. Lethal injections are the least torturous and the easiest way.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Ryan D
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg jhs
I think that lethal injection should be aloud to continue. In my opinion, firing squads and electric chairs are much more violent and disturbing.However, I do agree that the person who does the injecting needs to be properly trained and I think that a new combination of more effective chemicals needs to be made.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

will s
mr.Hanna/Stroudsburg jhs
I believe that lethal injection should not be allowed because of the chances of an accident. I also believe it should not be used because if the European Union banned the export of the drug needed then we should not use this type of execution.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, Pa

Sydney L
Mr. Hanna/Stoudsburg JHS
I don't think that lethal injections should be continued. It is a very cruel punishment. The person would have had to of done a very terrible crime for them to have to suffer like that. It doesn't even kill you instantly. You have to sit there with needles in your arms and witness your self suffer and die.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Kayla H
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I believe states should continue to use lethal injections for executions. However, trained medical professionals should be doing the injections. I do not think lethal injection can be classified as cruel and unusual punishment.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Talia g
Mr. Hanna Stroudsburg JHS
I believe that states should not continue to use lethal injections for executions. There are to many mistakes that have happened in the past with it. It is a cruel and unual punishment and they should limit executions to quick and not very painful things.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg/ PA

Michael I.
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Yes, states should more closely regulate lethal injection. Also, a professional like a doctor should be giving the shots not inexperienced people. Last I do not think lethal injections are cruel because if no accidents occur, the villain will just die in their sleep.

6/11/2014
Str

Luke D.
Mr. Hanna/ SJHS
I am indifferent to the use of lethal injection. If they continue the use of lethal injection, it should overseen by medical professionals so nothing goes wrong.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Kayliegh
Me. Hanna/ stroudsburg JHS
I believe that lethal injections should be able to continue. I think this because when there was an accident, it honestly was an accident. The person wouldn't purposely mess it up. It should not be considered unusual because it's not unusual to make an accident

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg,PA

Brandon
Mr.Hannah/Stroudsburg JHS
In my opinion, I think the lethal injection should not continue. The lethal injection failed more than once and it is a cruel and unusual punishment, so they should make it more effective or just stick to the firing squad and to the electric chair.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Isaac
Mr. Hanna/stroudsburg JHS
States should not be interfearing in the with lethal injections, and bring back public hangings ands firing squads. They are far less costly and also are a method of quick and painless deaths. ??????

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Edwin
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I think they should keep using lethal injections. But also closely be aware of the consequences that could happen. A medical professional should be there to make sure nothing cruel happens.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Charles
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
I think that should more closely regulate lethal injection. I think this because what if they don't die instantly and feel pain making it violate the 8th amendment. They should have a medical professional oversee it to make sure they don't feel pain and die instantly. I say botched executions are cruel and all deaths should be instant so the victim doesn't feel pain.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg PA

Joshua
Mr. Hanna Stroudsburg JHS
In my opinion I do think that states should regulate lethal ejections. I do think that there should be medical oversight during a execution incase of something going wrong. In my opinion I don't think that botched exicution is not "crule or unusual" because they people who are being executed or going to die anyways.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Chukwuma
Mr. Hanna/Stroudsburg JHS
Lethal injection should be more closely regulated. Medical oversight should be required just in case something goes wrong. When it does go wrong it should not be considered cruel and unusual. Since Italy wont give us the supplies there will be some mistakes, but when there are mistakes it is purely by mistake and should not be considered cruel and unusual.

6/11/2014
Stroudsburg, PA

Jayna
Mr. Hanna/ Stroudsburg JHS
I agree with states continuing to use lethal injections for executions. I do believe ,however, that states should monitor all executions and be sure when something may go wrong. I also believe that each execution depends on the crime committed. Hanging, electrocution, and firing squad all corporate the 8th amendment of executions not being "cruel or unusual punishment." I also strongly believe that all legal injections should be done by professionals.

5/30/2014
Maple, WI

Taryn
Northwestern
Lethal injection, despite the grimy most recent cases, is the most humane way to proceed with an execution. With hangings, firing squads, or the use of the electric chair there is much more room for error. That being said, with the recent results of the new drugs being used, I do think that the states need to regulate the executions better. They should know, before they use it, what the results of the drug will be. Medical oversight should be required because they would have a better handle on knowing if the drug is doing what it is supposed to do. Botched executions are not "cruel and unusual" because there was no intent to cause someone like Clayton Lockett the amount of pain and suffering he endured. I agree with the other comments on saying that it is not fair that someone would have to suffer through 43 minutes of agony, just to die from a heart attack, which was not the way the drug was supposed to work. Unfortunately, with the Italian company not providing us a known, humane injection, it is going to take a while for us to perfect the lethal drug.

5/30/2014
Maple, WI

Taryn
Northwestern
Lethal injection, despite the grimy most recent cases, is the most humane way to proceed with an execution. With hangings, firing squads, or the use of the electric chair there is much more room for error. That being said, with the recent results of the new drugs being used, I do think that the state needs to regulate the executions better. They should know, before they use it, what the results of the drug will be. Medical oversight should be required because they would have a better handle on knowing if the drug is doing what it is supposed to do. Botched executions are not "cruel and unusual" because there was no intent to cause someone like Clayton Lockett the amount of pain and suffering he endured. I agree with the other comments on saying that it is not fair that someone would have to suffer through 43 minutes of agony, just to die from a heart attack, which was not the way the drug was supposed to work. Unfortunately, with the Italian company not providing us a known, humane injection, it is going to take a while for us to perfect the lethal drug.

5/30/2014
Wisconsin

Chance
Northwestern
I believe that the states should regulate all forms of execution more, but lethal injection especially. For supposedly being the most humane form of execution, there is far to many mistakes that occur. I think that if it was more heavily regulated than less of these mistakes would occur. Medical oversight should be present at every execution no matter the form. They should be there because they have the training to be able to tell if something is going wrong from a medical standpoint better than someone who doesn't have the training. I think it depends on the intent behind the botched execution. If a mistake is made that causes unnecessary harm to the victim, then yes it is cruel and unusual, but it wasn't intended. Mistakes happen, although this is one area where there should be none if not very few. But if harm was purposefully brought to the victim, than it is still cruel and unusual, but on a different level. There is a difference between intent to harm and a mistake or accident.

5/28/2014
Maple

victoria
Northwestern
I think that all death penalty punishments are cruel and unusual. It is inhumane. If it's so wrong to kill somebody and that's why he/she is in prison for in the first place, I don't understand why the prison/state feels the need to kill the prisoner as well. It's a little redundant. If it's wrong, then what makes it okay for them to do it? If it's so terrible, you would think that prisons would realize that they shouldn't kill people either.

5/23/2014
Texas

Jaydne
Montgomery
I believe that the states should continue to use lethal injections for executions. I agree that hanging, electrocution, and firing squads violate the 8th amendment, which clearly states "no cruel or unusual punishment." As for finding the right doctors, I do believe they should only be done by trained professionals, no one who has never given a shot should be the person to end someone's life. People who are given lethal injections are the people the deserve it. People cannot go around thinking its okay to kill someone, there has to be a death sentence. Lethal injections just happen to be the perfect way for someone to go in a clean and orderly fashion.

5/22/2014
Washington/New Jersey

June
Rokosny/Warren Hills Regional High School
Lethal injection, despite the unfortunate instance of Clayton Lockett's painful death, remains the most potentially humane option for execution. The problem is not lethal injection, but the lack of regulation regarding the contents of the injection and the unwillingness of professionals to participate in the process. For this reason, states should regulate the process far more closely and require the assistance of of a medical professional. The world is at the peak of technological innovation, and an quick, effective, and painless execution substance is by all means attainable. Botched executions are not cruel and unusual punishment as much as they are a reflection of the failures of the states to enforce humane procedures.

5/22/2014
Washington, NJ

Sagar
Rokosny/ Warren Hills Regional High School
States should not continue to use lethal injections for execution because they result in a long painful death. A better way to execute a person would be to do it by applying laws of physics. According to one of the laws of physics, current is equal to voltage divided by resistance. Running a high current through someone's body would execute them in matter of seconds. Human skin has high resistance compared to their flesh and blood. Since current is equal to voltage divided by resistance, we can decrease the resistance to increase the flow of current. A standard American wall plug has a potential difference of 120 voltage which is plenty to execute a person with a skin (high resistance). If we were to make a small cut in the criminal's hand, and introduce him to a battery that supply's 120 volts, then we can definitely conclude that the person would be executed in matter of few seconds. I = V/R (lowering R increases current, I) and helps give the criminal a faster and less painful death because he would be executed in a matter of seconds.

5/22/2014
Washington, NJ

Jacob
Warren Hills
I agree that execution processes regarding lethal injection must be more closely regulated by the states, it is apparent that at least a small fraction of executions will go wrong if there is not enough oversight. As to the question of whether or not botched executions are "cruel and unusual" I believe the 43 minute span of sheer pain that the man in Florida went through was none other than just that. That being said, it is not the group of people that botched the execution that should take full blame, but once again I assign fault to the lack in regulation. If a building falls because of a fault in the building code, you don't assign blame to the builders, and it is obvious that the building code needs a change.

5/22/2014
Washington, NJ

Sandhyaa
Mrs.Rokosny, Warren Hills Regional School
States should be allowed to use lethal injection. Criminals that receive the death penalty are those that claimed lives and committed heinous acts.Why should they be allowed to live when they stole the life of another? Lethal injection, puts a person to sleep and most commonly does not cruelly punish by having them wright in pain. Criminal does not suffer so their 8th amendment rights do not suffer. Instances in Lockett's are unusual but with the execution of justice there will always be kinks in the system. Death by lethal injection allows the person to die in peace, which is something these criminals didn't allow their victims to have when they brutally murdered, raped, psychologically hurt people.

5/22/2014
Washington/NJ

Ryan
Rokosny
I would tend to say that states should use lethal injections for their executions. Coming from a state where capital punishment is illegal; I have no read first hand experience with it however, I am a believer in the death penalty and believe that lethal injections are the most humane. As compared to the electric chair, hangings which often do not work, suffocating in a gas chamber, or suffering the shot of the firing squad. I would believe that injections are the most humane of the above listed methods, and henceforth i believe in their continued use.

5/20/2014
Tx

Kati
Montgomery
I believe that states should used lethal injection. Why should the criminal get the easy way out yet, their victim didn't? Their victims were beaten, eaten, slaughtered, decapitated, raped, etc. Violations of the 8th amendment start when the criminal murders someone, so why should we listen to it if the criminal didn't? I've read so many stored where children are taken, and raped. One man raped a little boy in front of his sister and they were 8 and 9 years of age. He deserved the death penalty. Whatever crime this man has made was obviously punishable by death, so he deserved every bit if what he got.

5/19/2014
Montgomery Tetxas

Daniel Almond
Metizger
States should not be interfearing in the executions. I personally believe that they should do away with lethal injections, and bring back public hangings ands firing squads. They are far less costly and also are a method of quick and painless death therefor these types of executions are not abiding the 8Th amendment.

5/17/2014
Texas

Taylor
Montgomery
States should not regulate executions any more than they already do. Lethal injections are meant for people how have killed others, and are not meant for kindness towards the prisoner. It is their punishment for breaking the law. The injectors should pay more attention to their dosage, so they don't violate the Eighth Amercement's "No cruel or unusual punishment".